Forbes.com recently published an article on the current strength of the sports memorabilia market. It notes that while many other financial investment have been showing sign weakness due to the current economic situation, quality sports memorabilia has resisted much of the recent slide. But as you get deeper into the Frobes.com article, you start getting deja vu all over again (how about that, a Yogi Berra quote in a post on sports memorabilia).The article reports that high quality and rare items are holding steady and may be considered a solid investment, while the more common items have seen prices fall. Although I am not an expert in sports memorabilia valuation, it really does not seem all that different than many of the other fine and decorative arts categories. Quality and rarity are still going to bring some good prices, while the more readily available items are showing signs of weakness and sliding values. The article points out that many current player items are quickly losing value, while other areas of retired players have better potential of holding value during the current economic downturn. Some of these items are very expensive and valuable, while many are more reasonably priced and available. In effect, having few barriers to entry, so long as the sports memorabilia investors knows what they are doing or has advice from an expert. This is so important, especially for appraisers, as there are so many forgeries and fakes being circulated throughout the market and being held within private collections.
The article states Even as a rough economy has shot a soft underbelly into parts of memorabilia world, the steady flow of quality pieces making their way into the market has most prices standing firm. "Overall, prices are holding their own or appreciating steadily," says Leila Dunbar, a former Sotheby's
The article continues While second-tier items with a glut of volume on the market (think Derek Jeter) aren't holding up under the volatile economy, the relatively rare stuff has a mostly recession-proof history. Last fall, in the midst of the banking upheaval, a Honus Wagner baseball card sold for $790,000, while a cap signed by the 1927 Yankees went for $94,000.
Buyers know that chances to add these types of items to their collections don't come along often, so they're ready to spend at auction time. It also helps that a signed piece of sports gear in good condition is a pure asset, with no underlying profit and loss statement to swing its value.
To read the Forbes.com article, click HERE.
1 comment:
I have a singed baseball from the Pittsburgh Pirates with Clements,Blackburn, Face, Law, Smith, Kravitz, Baker, Maeroski, Powers, Skinner, Virdon, Murtaugh....(with about 20 signatures dated in July 1958.) I was wondering who I go to get this apparised and verify that it is indeed genuine. (It has been passed down to my husband from his father whose uncle handed it to him.)
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